The Ultimate Smithsonian Institution Quiz

The Smithsonian Institution began with an unexpected donation and has grown to a massive collection of artifacts from all over the planet. Take this quiz and learn more about the famous institution that's renowned for its museum and its scientific endeavors.

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Question 1 of 20

The majority of the Smithsonian collection comes from:

the National Museum of Natural History

The Smithsonian's collection includes 137 million artifacts, the majority of which comes from the National Museum of Natural History.

the National Art Museum

the National Air and Space Museum

Question 2 of 20

Most of the Smithsonian's artifacts:

are on permanent display

rotate on display throughout the year

are not on display

Unfortunately, the Smithsonian can showcase only about 2 percent of its artifacts at any one time. That doesn't mean those artifacts are sitting around in storage though. Researchers often request to work with the institution's vast collections.

Question 3 of 20

Can you gain access to the Smithsonian artifacts that are in storage?

yes

Sure you can. You can cruise the digital archive or request to visit the warehouse. Depending on the object you want to see and what state it's in, you might get lucky and see the artifact up close.

no

Question 4 of 20

Where does the museum get most of its collections?

by purchase

by donation

by discovery and excavation

all of the above

All of those artifacts come to the Smithsonian through a few main channels: purchase, donation and, of course, discovery and excavation. Not all donations make the cut either. A committee thoroughly evaluates each gift to determine whether it should be included in the Smithsonian collection.

Question 5 of 20

Who founded the Smithsonian?

a British man

Although the Smithsonian is a U.S. museum, it was originally founded by a British gent named James Smithson.

an American woman

a French man

Question 6 of 20

The founder of the Smithsonian was:

wealthy

a scientist

both of the above

The wealthy founder of the Smithsonian, James Smithson, was a chemist, meteorologist and geologist.

Question 7 of 20

How much money did the founder of the Smithsonian contribute to the museum?

$100,000

$500,000

James Smithson contributed about $500,000 to the museum in 1835. This amount is equivalent to roughly $9 million today.

$1 million

Question 8 of 20

What did James Smithson hope to accomplish by donating his money to America?

an increase in knowledge

a diffusion of knowledge

both of the above

James Smithson stated that he wanted his money to increase and diffuse knowledge. His aim is now immortalized in the Smithsonian's mission statement.

Question 9 of 20

Why did James Smithson leave his fortune to America?

He wanted to promote knowledge in the new country.

While we may never fully know what was going on in Smithson's head when he drew up his will, he did indicate that he wanted to help promote knowledge in the fledgling country that was the United States.

Smithson became fond of the United States after attending school there.

Many of the philanthropist's colleagues and friends lived there.

Question 10 of 20

Why were the Americans wary of accepting James Smithson's donation?

They thought it was unconstitutional.

They believed it would damage their dignity.

both of the above

Unfortunately, Smithson's gift wasn't received with open arms. Many politicians believed accepting the bequest was unconstitutional, and others thoughts accepting the donation would damage the country's dignity.

Question 11 of 20

When was the first of the Smithsonian's many buildings finished?

1842

1855

In 1855, two decades after Smithson's bequest, the Smithsonian Institution Building went up.

1955

Question 12 of 20

Where is James Smithson buried?

His burial place is unknown.

He is buried in England.

He is buried at the Smithsonian Institution.

In the early 1900s, Smithson's remains were moved from England to the United States. He is buried at the Smithsonian Institution.

Question 13 of 20

The Smithsonian Institution Building is known as the:

castle

If you ever visit this recognizable building, now the home of administrative offices and the Smithsonian Information Center, you'll find that it really does resemble a castle.

palace

fort

Question 14 of 20

What was the first donation to the Smithsonian?

war paraphernalia

scientific tools

A chemist by the name of Robert Hare made the first donation to the Smithsonian in 1848. He donated his scientific apparatus.

books

Question 15 of 20

Nineteen museums and galleries comprise the giant Smithsonian Institution. Which of the following museums is NOT one of them?

American Museum of Natural History

That was a tricky question. The National Museum of Natural History is the Smithsonian's popular history museum, not the New York-based American Museum of Natural History.

Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

National Air and Space Museum

Question 16 of 20

The majority of the Smithsonian's budget comes from:

the government

Approximately 70 percent of the Smithsonian's budget, which amounts to about $700 million dollars annually, comes from the United States government.

ticket admissions

donations

Question 17 of 20

In addition to museums, the Smithsonian is also:

a large research engine

A large portion of the Smithsonian's budge is allocated to research. In fact, hundreds of researchers work for the Smithsonian.

a major benefactor for research grants

a university

Question 18 of 20

How does the Smithsonian Institution spread scientific knowledge to the general public?

by publishing papers

by offering classes

both of the above

Among other outreach efforts, the Smithsonian diffuses scientific knowledge by publishing papers, creating exhibits and offering classes. Students can also apply for fellowships, internships and volunteer positions.

Question 19 of 20

What original and popular American artifact is housed in the Smithsonian?

the Star-Spangled Banner

The Star-Spangled Banner (the flag that inspired the U.S. national anthem of the same name) was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in the late 19th century.

the Liberty Bell

the Declaration of Independence

Question 20 of 20

After reading about all things Smithsonian, you might be itching to visit one of its renowned museums in Washington, D.C. How much do you have to pay to gain entrance?

Nothing. It's free.

All that knowledge and history comes to you free of charge. You won't have to pay a cent to visit any of the Smithsonian museums in Washington.